View Full Version : Camp Creek Bald ?
My guidebook shows that there is a road at Camp Creek Bald. (This is between Allen Gap,NC and Jerry Cabin Shelter)
Does anyone know the name of the road, and it's condition?
Viking Mtn Road. It starts just West of the AT at Allen's gap on TN 70 and runs to the top of the mountain at Camp Creek Bald. The first part of the road is paved. The second part is gravel but is in very good shape. The last part (from Jones Meadow) to the top is rutted pretty badly at the start then gets a little better after passing the first abondoned microwave tower. A car would have problems with the last part but a pickup truck should do ok.
To avoid the last part, you can park at Jones Meadow. There is a short trail that links to the AT East of the parking area. It's not very well marked. It's not a bad hike from there up to the top.
There has been some discussion lately about closing the road during bad weather. There have been several accidents up there and even one death when a car ran off the road and down the Mtn. Seems there are several locals that do not appreciated the fact that a 4900 ft Mtn is no place to be in a snow storm.
I've also heard some rumors about possibly re-routing the trail closer to Jones Meadow where the views are very nice, but I'm not sure if this is actually going to happen.
Good Luck...
My guidebook shows that there is a road at Camp Creek Bald. (This is between Allen Gap,NC and Jerry Cabin Shelter)
Does anyone know the name of the road, and it's condition?
Hi,
I think the road is known by a couple of names. If I am remembering correctly, the sign off of TN 70 says Paint Creek Road. Whatever the sign says though, if you're coming from NC it's the first road on the right in TN. Just follow the main road all the way up.
There are several ways to connect to the AT from up there.
My favorite connector...Near the top, if you take the right-hand road just at the beginning of the meadow, there's a little parking spot on the right. Walk up that right-hand road a few yards and you'll see a trail on the left. It's a nice, fairly level connector to the AT.
The road has had some bad damage in recent years, but overall, it was in decent shape when I was up there in April. We were in a pick-up truck, but there were several cars up there, too.
I just got back from hiking the section from Camp Creek Bald. The road is a good paved road to begin with, then a good gravel road, then a good dirt road, then a not-so -good dirt road. It is drivable by truck or jeep, but I would not drive it in bad (wet) weather. A car would do OK, but not all the way to the towers at the end because there is a badly washed area, that a car would probably bottom out on.